Players from Central Catholic and Lafayette Jeff pose a group photo with Tyler Trent before playing to Spike Out Cancer Tuesday, September 4, 2018, in Lafayette. Trent is a sophomore at Purdue battling cancer. CC defeated Jeff 25-14, 25-17, 25-13. John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

The Purdue faithful show their support for Tyler Trent as the Boilermakers pull away from Ohio State in the fourth quarter Saturday, October 20, 2018, at Ross-Ade Stadium. Trent, a Purdue student, is battling a rare form of bone cancer. Purdue upset the No. 2 ranked Buckeyes 49-20. John Terhune/Journal & Courier

The jumbo tron features Purdue student Tyler Trent as he encourages the fans to stand up and shout at the end of the third quarter as Purdue battles Ohio State Saturday, October 20, 2018, at Ross-Ade Stadium. Trent is battling a rare form of bone cancer. Purdue upset the No. 2 ranked Buckeyes 49-20. John Terhune/Journal & Courier

The Tyler Trent Student Gate will be unveiled and dedicated Saturday prior to the Boilermakers playing Vanderbilt

WEST LAFAYETTE – Josh Seals arrives on his skateboard promptly at 1 p.m., wearing the same Chicago Cubs hat from two years ago.

His hair is shorter on this sunny day compared to the pleasant night of Sept. 22, 2017, when the curls flowed outside the back of his light blue hat with a Cubs logo on the front.

Seals starts to re-live the night he and Tyler Trent set up a tent outside Ross-Ade Stadium’s student entrance before Purdue played Michigan. The two long-time friends from Carmel were so excited about the direction of the football program under Jeff Brohm that they wanted to show support.

This was their idea.

“I immediately remember standing here and our tent over there and just some guy coming up to us and Tyler was all over it,” Seals recalled of the reporter who approached them. “Tyler was talking the entire time. This is what fills his soul. I love that.”

Buy Photo

Josh Seals, the now junior marketing student who camped outside the Purdue student gate with Tyler Trent in 2017 prior to the Michigan game, stands for a photo outside the yet to be unveiled Tyler Trent Student Gate, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019 outside Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. The Tyler Trent Student Gate will be unveiled before Purdue's home opener against Vanderbilt on Saturday at 10 a.m.(Photo: Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier)

It’s been nearly two years since Trent’s story first became known outside his family and friends. His multiple fights against osteosarcoma (bone cancer). The numerous chemotherapy treatments. The courage. The determination. His passion and love for life and his strong connection to Purdue, the athletic department and the football program.

This is where it began on the concrete just outside the student entrance. On Saturday, that same entrance will be dedicated the Tyler Trent Student Gate, which features gold lettering and the moniker ‘T2’ – Trent’s signature mark. Two plaques will display Trent’s image and chronicle his remarkable story.

Trent died Jan. 1, but his story and legacy continue. In fact, Saturday would’ve been Trent’s 21st birthday and it’s also the football program’s Hammer Down Cancer game against Vanderbilt, an event Trent served as an honorary captain twice. A movement on social media started Wednesday to sing Happy Birthday to Trent after the first quarter.

Can we please sing Tyler happy birthday at the end of the first quarter? Spread the word. @rossadebrigade

Seals will be the first student to walk through the gate following the 10 a.m. dedication ceremony. Tyler’s parents, Tony and Kelly and their family, will also walk through the entrance along with Sean English, the first recipient of the Tyler Trent Courage Award.

You know Trent’s story. How he lived. His prediction of Purdue beating No. 2 Ohio State in front of a sold-out crowd and a national television audience after announcing he wouldn't be returning to school because his health was declining. His story was told on ESPN’s Game Day hours before kickoff and the outpouring of support from across the country and the world was amazing. The Boilermakers gained a lot of fans that day.

Trent remained in the spotlight but Seals - now a junior majoring in marketing with an eye toward filmmaking - stayed in the background for the most part. Seals and Trent painted their bodies for the Michigan game. How about Saturday?

"I was a crazy freshman back then. I would say I'm a slightly less crazy junior now," Seals said.

He joined Purdue’s BYX fraternity, which is a men’s Christian house on campus. He leads worship sessions and participates in outreach events. He’s committed to helping other students find their way through life. His faith is priority No. 1. He’s followed Tyler’s path in the way he approaches life.

Buy Photo

Freshmen Josh Seals, left, and Tyler Trent get set for Purdue’s game against Michigan Saturday, September 23, 2017, at Ross-Ade Stadium.(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)

“The thing I’m the most passionate about and what I really value about Tyler’s life is he didn’t want to let life pass him by, especially in the end,” Seals said. “He wanted to take ahold of every single day and shake it out and make sure he got all the change that would fall out. That’s what I’ve been trying to do at Purdue.”

He accompanied Trent to games – sometimes sitting in the suites - but hasn’t forgotten the day he and his friend rushed down the stadium steps to sit on the front row and cheer on the Boilermakers. At the time, Trent was on crutches and watching the then-freshman maneuver his way down the steps was frightening but also emotional.

“A lot of memories,” Seals said. “I feel like this stadium is a very powerful place. It used to be a shame on Purdue’s campus for those years we sucked. Now, even if we’re not the best football team, I feel like we’re one of the most respected in the nation and we’ve had one of the strongest fan bases just because, honestly, what Tyler did and what he built and how everyone rallied around his story.”

Last November, Seals took his friendship one step further – he had Trent’s moniker, ‘T2’, tattooed on the inside of his left arm.

“His memory with me is more joyful than sad,” Seals said.

Josh and Tyler grew up across a pond in a Carmel neighborhood. Tony and Kelly Trent, were friends with Mike and Tracy Seals, Josh's parents before their children were born. They were homeschooled and graduated together from high school.

The families have always been close – attending the same church, watching their sons play the same sports and take part in the same activities – over the years.

“They were best friends,” Tony said. “It was a bond.”

They both ended up at Purdue, although Tyler’s first choice was North Carolina State. They lived in the same dorm their first year with Josh one floor below Tyler. They watched out for each other, including the night they camped out.

Tony was stunned when Tyler told him he was camping out, just hours after undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Tony questioned his son, but then backed off.

“That’s all I said to him because he’s 18 and at some point, parents have to let go and let your kids grow,” he said. “I tell parents, I tell people, ‘we don’t always know what’s right.’ If he hadn’t camped out, his story would never be where it’s at today.”

Seals was out of town when the Boilermakers took down the Buckeyes, attending a conference. He was on a mission trip to Thailand when Trent died. But Seals did say a farewell to his friend the week leading up to his death. In fact, when Trent announced he wasn't returning to school the day Purdue beat Nebraska, Seals rushed to his house.

"That night was one of the most emotional nights I've ever had," Seals said. "His dad and uncles and cousins and a few friends. I can picture it in my mind right now."

Tyler, though, kept fighting and was fueled by watching the rest of the football season unfold, including the win over Ohio State, and attended the Music City Bowl in Nashville.

Trent was known for making predictions but that's not Seals. He's not predicting the outcome of Saturday's game or even his emotions when he walks through the student gate.

“Maybe we’ll talk afterward,” he said with a smile. “It’s going to be impactful.”

For Tony and his family, the words are difficult to come by. It should be a joyful event and a day that reflects who Tyler was and how many lives he touched by living his own life on his own terms.

“We are humbled and honored that there’s something permanent there at Purdue University that reflects Tyler. We are so grateful Purdue is doing this,” Tony said. “I told Kelly every time I walk in that stadium, regardless of where I’m sitting, I’m walking through the student gate just to honor Tyler’s life. I can’t define it and it continues to evolve what it means.”

For Seals, walking through the student entrance Saturday will represent a full-circle moment when two friends made a decision that has changed the lives of so many people and the legacy it created.

“Not only did he leave an impact in the hearts of the people here at the university, but he’ll be a part of this stadium forever,” Seals said. “That’s wild you can leave a mark like that.”

Purdue President Mitch Daniels, Board of Trustees President Mike Berghoff, head coach Jeff Brohm and Tyler’s parents, Tony and Kelly, are scheduled to speak. The Purdue Cancer Center for Research will hand out rally towels to the first 3,000 students and copies of Tyler's book – The Upset – will be distributed to the first 100 students. Rally towels will be available to fans for a donation to the Cancer Center.